Holding and releasing switch



June 14, 1938. w TRAUTNER 2,120,876

HOLDING AND RELEASING SWITCH Filed Oct. 4, 1937 INVEN T 0R WAGN TRAUTNER.

{MfiTORNEYS Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLDING AND RELEASING SWITCH Wagn Trautner, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to E. H. Kuefler, Oakland, Calif.

My invention relates to electric switches, and more particularly to an electric switch which will hold, when contact is made, and which can be released to a circuit breaking position by the energization of a releasing circuit.

Among the objects of my invention are: To

provide a switch which will hold in contact mak- 'ing position by friction, and which can be released to a neutral position magnetically; to provide a holding switch having a variable stroke; to provide a self-centering holding switch; to provide a holding switch having a magnetic release; to provide a holding switch in the form of a friction clutch; to provide a new and improved method of operating a holding switch; and to provide a simple and efficient holding switch of relatively few parts.

My invention possesses numerous other objects and features of advantage, some of which, togo gether with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of specific apparatus embodying and utilizing my novel method. It is therefore to be understood that my method is applicable to other apparatus, and that I do not 25 limit myself, in any way, to the apparatus of the present application, as I may adopt various other apparatus embodiments, utilizing the method, within the scope of the appended claims. Other broad objects of my invention may be 30 more fully understood by direct reference to the drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view partly in section and partly in elevation, of one preferred form of my invention. g 35 Fig. 2 is a top view partly in section and partly in elevation, of the switch shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a backview oi! my invention, together with a circuit diagram showing one manner by which it may be utilized.

4 Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken as indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

In the preferred form of switch shown, the

.internal members of the switch are attached to a casing which is formed in two parts, an upper 45 part I and a lower part 2. These parts telescope and interlock to form a single unit. The upper part I contains the switch mechanism proper,

and a metal disc 4 extends across the casing and is provided with a side wall 5 which is firmly attached to the casing in any convenient manner, such as by spot-welding, for example.

A short distance away from the side wall the disc is bent upwardly to form a truncated cone 0, the upper surface 1' extending toward the center and being again turned upwardly to form a bearing 9 for an actuating shaft 10. The lower end of the shaft is provided with an armature head ll of magnetic material, and a clutch disc I2, preferably of insulating material, is firmly attached thereto, this clutch disc having a cone 5 portion l4 bearing against the cone 6 of the metal disc.

Bearing against the upper surface 1 of the metal disc, and surrounding bearing 9, is a centering washer l5, having a centering arm 16 10 thereon extending. radially outwardly and being bent down to form a centering lug l1 passing through a centering aperture It in the metal disc 4, and projecting still further into a centering recess 19 in the clutch disc. A clutch spring 20 15 is provided, bearing against the centering'washer below and against a clutch spring retaining nut 2| above, the clutch spring retaining nut being secured by a lock nut 22. A handle 24 is attached to the clutch disc l2 and passes through a handle 20 slot 25 in the metal disc and in the casing.

Diametrically opposite the handle, and attached to the periphery of the clutch disc, is a movable contact 26 bearing against a central brush 21, and laterally spaced from central brush 21 are 25 two lateral brushes 29 and 3!! bearing on they insulating periphery of the clutch disc, so that when the handle 24 is moved to right or left, one or the other of the lateral brushes will make contact with the movable contact so that a circuit 30 may be completed between central brush 21 and one of the lateral brushes. Each of the brushes 21, 29 and 30 is provided with a connection screw ll.

In order that handle 24 be normally maintained in central position, I provide right and left centering springs 32 and 34, which are preferably spiral springs, fitted into spring cavities 35 in the clutch disc, and being kept therein by the close proximity of this disc at that point to the metal disc 4. Centrally, the cavities terminate short of the center line between the springs, and laterally, the springs engage spring lugs 36, knocked down out of metal disc material. Thus, there is a tension in both directions against the disc l2, tending to center the disc so that neither of the lateral contacts 30 or 3| makes connection with movable contact 26. The centering lug l1 ensures that the handle will rest in exactly central position.

The portion 2 of the casing supports a release magnet 40 having a magnetic coil 41 wound thereon, the coil and magnet being supported by a coil bracket 42 attached to the case by two magnet 1 connections 44, insulated from the casing,

The operation of the device is simple. First, pressure against the handle in either right or left direction forces the centering lug i'l out of the centering recess i9, and the handle may then move to right or left to the extent of spring cavities 35, the stop being positive because of the spring retaining lugs 36 contacting the back end of the springcavities. Clutch spring 20 creates enough friction between the coned surfaces of the metal disc and the clutch disc so that the handle will stay in right or left position until magnet M is energized, whereupon the armature head and attached clutch disc is drawn toward the magnet, breaking the frictional contact, and the centering spring which is under tension will center the .handle instantly. As the clutch disc rotates,

centering recess i9 will be presented to centering lug ii, and the centering lug will drop therein and the handle will come to rest in exact central position.

In order to ensure a quick break of the clutch, I prefer to insert between the clutch disc and the metal disc a clutch release spring 65, and balance spring 45 against spring 20 so that there is always sumcient friction in the clutch to hold the handle in any lateral position but to effect release of the clutch with a minimum of magnetic flux in magnet 4i.

While there are many circuits in which this clutch may be utilized, only a simple circuit need be shown, such as that illustrated in. Fig. 3. Here, the central brush 2'! is connected directly to a source of electricity 50, and each of the lateral brushes 3!] and 3i are connected through signal lamps BI and 52 to the other end of source ill. Thus, when the handle is thrown either to right or left, one or the other of lamps 50 or Si is illuminated. In the release circuit a release source 54 is connected in series with coil 4| and push button 55. When the push button is operated the coil is energized, the magnetic armature head II is drawn toward the magnet, and the clutch is released, whereupon the handle returns to central position.

Several points should be emphasized in the description of the particular switch shown, and the main point is that handle 24 does not have to be moved to the full extent of its stroke in order that the right or left brush 29 or 30 contactthemovable contact 26. The permissible stroke of the handle is preferably made approximately three times or more the length of the distance between movable contact 26 and either of the brushes 29 or 30. Thus, contact will'be made in the lamp circuits, even though the handle 24 is moved only onethird or less of its permissible stroke, and I have purposely arranged the switch in this manner so that a hurried or incomplete operation of the handle 24 will give a complete operative connection of the interior contacts.

Many times, in switches of this type, particularly, for example, when used as a steering gear switch for vehicle signalling, it is difiicult to give a complete, full length stroke of the handle, and in holding switches of other types heretofore utilized, if the full stroke is not given the handle will not hold in indicating position. Consequently, I have provided a switch which does not require a full stroke, and which may have, after a certain minimum stroke, a wide variation in stroke without affecting the electrical operation of the switch. It is therefore particularly adapted to quick flipper action, where one cannot be certain of the exact distance the flip is going to carry the handle, and I consider that this arrangement eliminates a great many of the disadvantages of former types of holding switches, where a uniform stroke is necessary in order that the holding operation may take place.

The switch of my invention will hold in any iven deviation from the central position, and I have found it convenient also to so design the centering lug in relation to the centering recess, that the handle will not hold at all unless moved the minimum distance necessary to establish electrical connection. Thus, the operator can give the handle any sufficient stroke to make the handle hold, knowing full well that if the handle does hold, electrical connection is being made, but this stroke, after the holding has been accomplished, may be of any length up to the full travel of the handle.

It is of course to be fully understood that the holding switch herein shown and illustrated is an example only of holding switches which may be designed by those skilled in the art, having before them the disclosure herein, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A holding switch comprising a stationary member having a friction surface thereon, a movable member rotatable adjacent said stationary member, a spring urging said members together in frictional relationship, a movable contact carried by said movable member, a stationary contact positioned to connect with said movable contact upon rotation of said movable member, resilient means holding said movable member in predetermined position, means for rotating said movable member, and means for breaking said frictional relationship.

2. A holding switch comprising a stationary member having a friction surface thereon, a movable member rotatable adjacent said stationary member, a spring urging said members together in frictional relationship, a movable contact carried by said movable member, a stationary contact positioned to connect with said movable contact upon rotation of said movable member, resilient means holding said movable member in predetermined position, means for rotating said movable member, and magnetic means positioned to draw said members apart to break said frictional relationship.

3. A holding switch comprising a stationary member having a friction surface thereon, a movable member rotatable adjacent said stationary member, a spring urging said members together in frictional relationship, a movable contact carried by said movable member, a stationary contact positioned to connect with said movable contact upon rotation of said movable member. resilient means holding said movable member in predetermined position, means for rotating said movable member, an armature on said movable member, and an electromagnet positioned to act on said armature to draw said members apart to break said frictional relationship.

4. A holding switch comprising a stationary disc having a frictional surface thereon, a rotatable disc having a shaft extending through a bearing in said stationary disc, 9. spring bearing against said shaft at one end and said stationary disc at the other end to frictionally connect said discs, contacts engageable by rotation of said rotatable disc, resilient means positioned to center .said rotatable disc in a predetermined position,

and of insufficient force to act against the triotion of said discs, and. means for breaking said frictional connection to allow said resilient means to operate to center said rotatable disc.

5. A switch in accordance with claim 4, with a friction lock for said rotatable disc when in central position.

6. A switch in accordance with claim 4, with a resilient lug registering with a recess in said rotatable disc when in central position.

'7, A holding switch comprising a stationary disc, a rotatable disc Journaled on said stationary disc and having a frictional surface cooperating with a similar surface on said stationary disc. a spring urging said surfaces together, resilient means positioned to return said rotatable disc to a predetermined position only upon breaking of frictional contact between said discs, circuit making means operable only by rotation of said rotatable disc away from said predetermined position, an armature on said rotatable disc, and a magnet positioned to pull on said a rmature against said spring to break said frictional contact and allow said disc to return to said predetermined position.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim '7,

wherein an axle of magnetic material is provided, fixed to said rotatable disc and journaled in said stationary disc, one end of said axle forming said armature.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim '7, wherein an axle of magnetic material is provided, ilxed to said rotatable disc and iournaled in said stationary disc, one end of said axle forming said armature, and where the two cooperating surfaces are coned'surfaces.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim '7, wherein a resilient lug is provided, registering with a recess in said rotatable disc when in said predetermined position.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim '7, wherein stop means are provided, limiting the rotation of said rotatable disc to a predetermined arc on both sides of said predetermined position, and wherein said circuit making means are operated at the beginning of relative movement between said disc and over the entire predetermined arc, excluding said predetermined position.

WAGN 'I'RAUTNER. 

